Knitting machine



Nov. 13, 1945. R. H. LAWSON ETAL 2,388,750

' KNITTING MAcHNE' Filed oct. 1, 1942 7 sheets-sheet 1 NOV- 13, 1945. R. H. LAWSON ET Al. 2,388,750

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Oct. l. 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Pau. Z M( saldar y 47m/Wmv Nov. 13, 1945. R. H. LAWSON ET AL. 2,383,750

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Oct. l, 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 13, 1945. R. H. LAWSON ETAL KNITTING MACHINE Filed oct. 1, 1942 7 sheets-sheet 4 N ov. 13, 1945. R. H. LAwsoN ETAL! KNITTING MACHINE Filed Oct, l, 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Para! 'fogu @u M rfa Mfys.

Nm is, 1945. R. H. LAWSQN ET AL 2,388,750

` KNITTING MACHINE Filed 0st. 1, 1942 7 Sheets-Shet 6 NOV. 13, 1945. R H LAWSON ET AL Y 2,388,750

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Oct. l, 1942 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 v Patented Nov. 13, 1945 KNITIING MAGHINE` Robert H.- Lawson and Paul W. Bristow, Laconia,

N. H.. assignors to Scott & Williams, incorporated, Laconia, N. H., a corporation of chusetts Application Octoberv l, 1942, Serial No. 46h37@ (im. SG-ll) 39 Claims.

rI'his invention relates to a knitting method and machine. and inparticular relates to means for feeding yarns to the needles thereof and the manipulations of said yarns.

In the incorporation of rubber or other elastic yarns in knitted fabric, yarn changes must be provided in such fashion that the elastic yarn is laid in during the knitting of other yarn or yarns and may be taken out at any desired times. In particular, it is sometimes required that the elastic yarn be introduced in alternate courses, or .periodically for single or perhaps double courses only.

One of the objects of the invention is the pro vision of an arrangement for accomplishing this.

lparticularly adapted to a type of yarn change mechanism which is extensively used in connection with a superposed cylinder type of machine. In accordance with this phase ofthe invention, the elastic yarn control is provided in the form of a simple accessory to the conventional yarn changer.

The invention further relates to the provision of a yarn feeding mechanism comprising upper and lower series of yarn fingers with provisions for effecting the proper presentation of yarns to the needles -by all of such fingers. This includes specifically the provision of a yarn guide for ining in particular the mechanism for clamping and cutting the yarns; l f

Figure is a diagrammatic perspective view showing the controlling means for bodily swinging the yarn fingers during yarn changing operations;

llliigure 16 is a fragmentary perspective view showing in particular the guidance of a yarn being fed to the needles and the positions taken suring substantially the identical path of move- I ment of the yarn to the needles irrespective of the finger which effects the feeding. By the provision of upper and lower banks of feeding iingers, they and their clamps and cutters may be brought closer to feeding position, thereby producing shorter yarn ends in the fabric.

Further objects of the invention relate to the manipulation of the yarns in the formation of stitches. v

These and other objects of the invention, particularly relating to details, will become apparent from the following'description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:v

Figure l is a fragmentary elevation of a portion of a. knitting machine of superposed cylinvctiier type embodying the features of the4 inven- Figure 2 is a fragmentary view showing, in particular, the arrangement of a cam follower for controlling movements of a. yarn feeding iin- Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing `the selective means for effecting yarn changes and indicating certain conventional auxiliary devices;

, Figures 4 to 8, inclusive, are diagrammatic secby the yarn fingers in effecting the feed;

Figures l? to 19, inclusive, are fragmentary diagrammatic views illustrating the fashion in which the yarns are handled by special cooperation of needles and sinkes resulting in acceleration of seizure of an ingoing yarn; and

Figures 20 and 21 are fragmentary diagrammatic views illustrating the action of an extende'd nose of a sinker in preventing undesired downward movements of loops during the picking of the needles into action in heel and toe knitting.

The type of machine to which the invention is applied is of the superposedv cylinder type shown particularly in the patent to Bentley 1,838,651. dated December'29, 1931. In this type of ma.- chine, there are provided lower and upper cylinders indicated at 2 and 4, respectively, in Figure 1, carried by a suitable frame 6. within slots in which cylinders there slide double ended needles under the control of jacks which also slide within the needle slots. In the formation ofA plain fabric, all of the needles are located in the lower cylinder, their lower hooks being engaged.

by the jacks therein, and their upper hooks and latches at this time serve to seize the yarn and form stitches. In the formation of rib fabric, or for the formation of fabric involving other reverse concatenations of loops, certain of the needles may be located in the upperl cylinder, being engaged therein by sliders carried by the upper cylinder, in which case their lower hooks and latches are active in the formation of loops.

The fact that the needles thus acting at times in both the upper and lower cylinders form a cage precluding the movement of any elements across the needle circle necessitates special precautions to insure that the yarns are properly engaged by the needles.

Accordingly, the yarn fingers are given special elaborate movements such as described in said Bentley et al. Patent 1,838,651, and as will be referred to in greater detail hereafter.

A bracket 8 is mounted upon a vertical shaft to which is secured a lever I having a horizontally extending arm (see Figure 15). On this bracket l there are supported in upright guides, of which one is indicated at I2, a plurality of rods I4 terminating in yarn eyes and constituting yarn feeding fingers. These rods or fingers, as they will be hereafter referred to, are mounted for longitudinal sliding movement and are also capable of oscillation about their axes by reason of the engagement of laterally extending pins I8 carried by them through cam slots 20.formed in an upright plate I3 located alongside the fingers. At their rear ends the various fingers are engageable by the laterally extending upper ends of actuating levers I6 whereby they may be moved longitudinally against the action of springs 22 individual to the fingers. In the present case, this l arrangement is true of the upper five of the fingers, but in the case of the lowermost, which is adapted to feed the elastic yarn, instead of a long` lever I8, there` is provided a short lever 30,

f mounted concentrically with the other levers and similarly moved, but connected through a link 28 to another lever 26 whichis, in turn, connected through a flexible link 24 to the'pin Il of the lowermost finger. This arrangement is provided solely for convenience and to secure the necessaryrange of movement through a magnincation afforded by the lever combination.

Reference to Figure 2 will show the arrangement whereby a proper adjustment of the positions of the yarn feeding fingers may be secured. To each of the levers I8, as well as to lever 33, there is pivoted at 34 upon a shoulder screw adjustably clamped in a slot an individual cam follower 32 (designated 33 in the case of lever 30), the angular position of which with respect to the lever is adjustable by means of an abutment screw 36. It will be evident that through this arrangement the position of the feeding eye of a nnger when it is in feeding position may be finely adjusted, while by reason of the slot ad-` Justment the timing of operation may be accurately fixed.

A stationary shaft 40 has journalied thereon A a cam and ratchet assembly for each of the yarn feeding fingers, including that which handles the elastic yarn. In Figures 4 to 9, inclusive, are shown certain of the elements of each of these assemblies. Each comprises a ratchet 42 and, in the case of the inelastic yarn feeding elements, a cam plate 44 and a second cam plate 48, which is illustrated in Figure 14, these being secured together for simultaneous movement. Each ratchet 42 comprises six teeth equiangularly spaced, of which alternate teeth are high. as indicated at 48, the intermediate ones being low, as indicated at 50.

The cam disc or plate 44 contains three cam repeats comprising, respectively, high portions 52, intermediate portions 54 and low portions 58. By reason of the movement of the ratchet one tooth at a time, eachcam two rest positions which are, respectively, indicated in Figures 4 and 5, one of them involving engagement of the follower 32 by an intermediate height surface 54 and the other involving engagement of the follower by the trailing portion plate has, in effect,'

'of intermediate level.

2,888,750 l i 5 of a high surface 32. To secure proper position-` ing of the yarn fingers, the cam plates 44 diil'er slightly in dimensions, but all involve similar high, intermediate and low portions.

The disc 46 is provided with six projections I3 which, as will be pointed out hereafter, serve during movements of the ratchet to effect operation of the individual clamps and cutters assoeiated with the yarn feeding fingers.

In the case of the elastic yarn feeding elements, the ratchet 42 is the same as described, and secured to it is a disc 48, also as described. However, instead of a cam plate 44 there is a cam plate 45 having only what amount to high and low portions 41 and 49, respectively.

As indicated in Figure 1, and following essentially Bentley Patent- 1,838,651, there is mounted to oscillate about the axis of the shaft 40 a frame 80 connected through a link 62 to a crank drive 84 which is preferably of the type illustrated and described in detail in the patent to Houseman 2,180,708, dated November 21, 1939, and which permits a-shift in timing as described in said patent.

Mounted upon a transverse rod 6'5 in the frame 60 is a group of pawls 66 numbering sevenin all, of which six are arranged to cooperate with the six ratchets 42 corresponding to the six yarn feeding fingers. Each of these seven pawls is provided with a ratchet-engaging hook portion 68 whereby when oscillation of the frame 60 takes place in a counter-clockwise direction in Figure 1, the pawls may ride over the teeth of the ratchets, being thereafter in position to engage the same, if the selective mechanism permits, to rotate the ratchet through one-sixth of a revolution upon clockwise oscillation. Each of the portions is provided with a nose extension 'l0 arranged to cooperate with the selective mechanism which will be shortly described.

The seventh pawl mentioned above is arranged to cooperate with a ratchet 12 (Figure 15), also journalled upon the shaft or rod 40 and provided with six teeth, which in this case are of equal height. Secured to this ratchet is a cam disc provided with six repeats of cam surfaces involving two high portions 14 and 16. pointed out hereafter, this cam disc is adapted 'I'he various ratchet essentially the same and associated with ing their overrun.

Arranged as in the Bentley patent for endwise sliding movement in the direction of the axis of the shaft 40 andabove and slightly to one side thereof is a slide 80, which has its upper end serrated to provide a series of equally spaced high steps 82, five in number, corresponding to the flve yarn fingers which are adapted to feed the inelastic yarns. As will be clearest. from the diagrams of Figures 10 to 13, inclusive, to the left of these high steps 82, but positioned differently with respect to them, are notches 84, while between the notches and the steps are portions 88 To the extent so far described, the slide is the same as in said Bentley et al. patent. In the present case, however, this slide carries a second auxiliary slide 88, which is attached thereto for relative sliding movement 83 is normally urged toward the right with reassenso 3 spect to the slide 80 by means of a spring 94, but is adapted to be moved independently to a limited degree toward the left relative to the main slide 80 against the action of this spring. The auxiliary slidecarries a high step 96 of the same height as the steps 82, to the right of which, as viewed in Figures 3 and 10 to 13, there is located a notchv |02 which, when the auxiliary slide is in its left hand position relative to the main slide, is in alignment with a notch |04 in the main slide. A second high step 98 is carried by the auxiliary slide and between this and the notch |02 there is the level portion |00, which is also continued to the right of the high step 90.

Referring to Figure 3, there is illustrated therein the fashion in which the slides are controlled to effect selective actions. A spring |06 urges eration with the matters of the present invention. A collar H3 carried by the rod |I2 is arranged to act upon a lever H5 which, through suitable the slide 80 to the left while movements of the slide to the right are effected through engagement of an adjustable abutment screw |08 carried by the slide 80 by the end of' a bell crank lll0, connected through a link ||2 to a double armed lever l i4 provided with a follower portion H6 arranged to ride lugs ||8 `of various heights on a pattern chain carried by a sprocket wheel secured to a ratchet |22 which is arranged to be moved one step for each course of knitting by means of conventional pawl mechanism which is not illustrated. A series of ratchet Wheels may be simultaneously moved by the ratchet |22, all carrying chains for the control of the mechanism. However, one chain may suice for complete control if it is provided with a series of upstanding lugs on one side for yarn change control and a series of upstanding lugs on thel other side for control of the main cam drum of the machine, as well as with lateral lugs indicated at i52 for control of the elastic yarn, as will be described,

For the purpose of controlling the auxiliary slide 88, an upstanding portion |24 thereof at the right of the step 98 is engageable by a wedgeshaped cam |26 carried by the upper end of a lever |28, which is pivoted at |30 to the yarn connections, controls both slowing down of the mechanism during yarn changes and the slackening of loops by moving'the stitch cam block downwardly, the latter being effected through a lever which is merely indicated at in Figure 1. Both of these controls are conventional in nature. The slackening of loops may take place in the course preceding the change, in the course of the yarn change, and also in the following course. See, for example, Swlnglehurst Patent 618,017, dated January 17, 1899, and Scott et al. Patent 653,562, dated July 10, 1900.

The operations involvedin the changing of yarns may now be described with reference particularly to Figures 4 to 9, inclusive, 10 to 13, inclusive, and 16.

The movements of the inelastic yarn fingers in effecting the introduction of yarns are fundamentally the same as those involved in said Bentley et al. Patent 1,838,651, i. e., the yarn finger rst moves in the direction of rotation of the needle cylinders substantially beyond the position which it will later assume during the feed of its yarn, this motion, in fact, being past the line of tangency of a yarn to the needle circle from the clamp in which its end is held. At the end of this extreme movement, the yarn finger moves inwardly toward the axis of the needle cylinder so as to draw the yarn into contact with the needles so that' it may be seized by the rising latches of the needles. Immediately thereafter, the yarn finger movesv back both away from the needle cylinder and opposite its initial movement in the direction of rotation to come to rest, after again moving inwardly toward the axis, at a position close to the needle circle, but between the region of tangency mentioned above and the position of the clamping and cutting mechanism. It

change bracket of the machine. Also pivoted independently of the lever |28, but on the same center, is a lever |32 which is connected to lever |80 by a spring |34, a suitable stop being provided to limit relative movements of the levers under the spring action. Arranged to abut the lever |32 is a link |36, which is guided at an intermediate portion thereof by pivotal connections to a link |38 and at its forward end is connected to one arm of a bell crank |40, which is pivoted at |42 and has its other end |50 arranged to be engaged by the laterally extending lugs |52 on the pattern chain |20. The pivot at |42 is carried by a lever |44, which is clamped upon the fixed rod |46 with its clockwise :position limited and finely adjustable by adjustment of a screw |46 abutting a portion of the frame.

The purpose of the spring arrangements illustrated is to permit-the independent movement to the right of the main slide 80 despite the position of the link |36, i. e., whilevthe link |36 is operative to rock the lever |28 and to move the auxiliary slide 88 to the left, acting through the medium of spring |34 against the. tensions of springs |30 and 84, the yielding connections prevent jamming under conditions of movement of the slide 60 by the bell crank H0. Spring |30 normally holds cam |26 out of the path of memr`l24. belntlicated inA Figure 3 are certain elements ot conventional type and having no unusual coopwill be obvious, therefore, that from the standpoint,of the sliding movement of the ngers as viewed in Figure 1, they will first "move from an inactive position of rest to an extreme right hand position, and thereupon immediately back to the position which defines their proper feeding location with respect to the needle circle.

y With the above in mind, the positions of the cam discs 44 represented in Figures 4 and 'l correspond to the yarn feeding positions of the fingers which they control. On the other hand, Figures 5, 6 and 8 represent inactive positions of the correspondingyarn feeding fingers. As pointed out above, these two alternatives represent the rest positions of the cam discs. In moving from the position of Figures 4 and '7 to the position of Figures 5, 6 and 8, i. e., in going out of action, follower 32 is merely forced toward the left, representing a simple movement of the yarn finger from feeding position to inactive position slightly beyond its individual clamping and cutting mechanism. On the other hand, the reverse movement between the positions just mentioned involves the dropping of the follower 32 from a high surface 52 to a low surface 56, and its rise to the intermediate surface 54, this giving rise to .the extreme forward movement just mentioned followed by a partial retracting movement to the yarn feeding position.

The fashion in which the yarn lingers and their individual clamps and cutters are associated with each other and related to the cylinders at the yarn feeding positionis illustrated in Figure 16, in which the needles |53 are shown as located in the lower cylinder, circumferential directions being considerably exaggerated in this figure for thepurpose of clarity, i. e., the needles in seizing the yarn descend at a substantially steeper angle than that shown. With the exception of the elastic yarn feeding finger indicated at l4r, the fingers I4 move forwardly to an extreme position I4a and then drop back to a feeding position illustrated by the finger |4b, which, in Figure 16. is feeding its yarn to the needles. The details of the movements of the fingers will be described hereafter.

The elastic yarn feeding finger |4r has a 'different movement produced under the control of the cam 45 illustrated in Figure 9. When a low portion 48 of this cam acts upon the follower 38, the elastic yarn finger is moved to a position approximating that of I 4a in Figure 16. But thereafter, instead of being pushed back to the position l4b, it remains in that position so as to lay its yarn between the loops drawn by the upper and lower cylinder needles, the elastic yarn being fed only during rib knitting or, at any rate, only duringsuch times as needles are knitting in both the upper and lower cylinders. The high portions 41 of the cam 45 move the finger |41' to its inactive position, illustrated in Figure 16.

A series of events typical of all of the yarn changing operations is represented by the respective positions of the slides indicated in Figures to 13. inclusive. In these figures, the various extensions or noses 18 of the pawls corresponding to the inelastic yarn feeding fingers are indicated at 10a, 18h, 10c, lud and 10e, the nose 10 of tne pawl corresponding to the elastic yarn feeding finger as indicated at "mr, and the nose of the pawl which controls rocking of the frame 8 is indicated at 18.

In Figure 10, the slides 80 and 88 are located in what may be regarded as a normal position assumed during the continued feeding of any of the yarns. Under these conditions, each of the pawl noses is laterally lined up with a high step 82 or, in the case of the noses corresponding to y the elastic yarn feeding finger and the rocking of the bracket 8, the high steps 96 and 98. As a result of this, when the frame 60 oscillates counter-clockwise, the nose of each of the pawls Will engage and thereafter ride upon a high step, and in the return oscillation of the frame will continue to engage such step until its hook has passed the location of the engageable face of a corresponding ratchet tooth, so that the hook will. merely drop on the circumferential surface of the tooth and effect no action. For the sake of explanation, let it be assumed that the second finger corresponding to the pawl having the nose 10b is feeding yarn while the sliders occupy the positions in Figure 10. Under such conditions, the cam plate 44 corresponding to the second yarn feeding finger is illustrated in Figure 4 and the corresponding pawl 66 at the end of its counter-clockwise movement will also occupy the position illustrated, being raised substantially aboveA a position in which it might engage a high tooth 48 in pulling contact with which, in the absence of the step 82, it could fall.v Y

At the same time, the cams 44, corresponding to the other inelastic yarn feeding fingers, will occupy the position illustrated in Figure 5, and

their pawls also will be raised 4by the high steps 82, or, in the case of the elastic yarn feeding finger, the pawl will engage step 96. Similarly in the case of the rocking mechanism, the pawl carrying the nose 18 will be prevented from engaging any of the teeth on the ratchet 'l2 by means of the high step 98.

Assume, now, that the fourth of the inelastic yarn feeding fingers, corresponding to the pawl having nose 10d, is to go into action while the yarn corresponding to the nose 10b theretofore feeding is to be removed. To effect this result,

l stroke of the frame 60. The nose 18d, however,

will enter the corresponding slot 84, so that the pawl occupies its lowermost position.

Upon clockwise movement of the frame 60, the pawl carrying the nose 10d will move from the position illustrated in Figure 8, and will, consequently, carry the cam engaging the follower 32 of the fourth finger to move it through an angle of 60. The follower 32 will thereupon be disengaged by surface 52 and thereafter will be engaged by the low surface 56 and the following intermediate height surface 54 to effect a placing of the yarn by the finger and, immediately thereafter, the location of the finger in normal feeding position. It will be noted that this action willlocate a high tooth 48 of the corresponding ratchet in position to be engaged upon the next action of the pawl thereon.

The ratchet corresponding to the second finger which was theretofore feeding its yarn will have a high tooth presented for engagement by the pawl so that as the nose 18h of this pawl rides at an intermediate level over ledge 86, the parts will occupy the position illustrated in Figure 7 at the end of the counter-clockwise movement of the frame 68. The pawl is permitted'to move 5 sufficiently inwardly to engage a high tooth and consequently, upon clockwise movement of the frame 68, the pawl will impart to the corresponding cam a 60 movement which will serve to retract the second finger from yarn feeding position, moving it to a position beyond its clamp and cutter. At the same time, the cam disc 46, which corresponds thereto will be given a movement which will cause it to cut and clamp the yarn at a time after the new yarn is safely engaged by the needles.

In the case of the other inelastic yarn feeding fingers, and the elastic yarn feeding nger, no action occurs by reason of the fact that the position of the ratchet corresponding to any inactive finger involves a presentation in position for possible engagement by the pawl of' a low tooth and the engagement of the pawl nose with a surface 88 will prevent the pawl from moving inwardly sufficiently to engage such low tooth. This condition is illustrated in Figure 6, from which it will be evident that theclockwise movement of the frame 68 will fail to produce any movement of any of the ratchets of inactive fingers which are to remain inactive. It may be pointed out that if the machine is properly set up, the advance of the pattern chain will immediately carry from beneath the follower H6 the yarn change controlling lug I|8 prior to the next cycle of movement of the frame 66, if no yarn change is to take. place, the slides moving to the position oi' Figure 10. Thus there is avoided any possible accidental removal of the introduced yarn which might occur if the slides remain in the same position serving for its introduction. In fact, if it is desired that the machine be completely cleared of yarn, it is only necessary to provide two lugs of the same yheight on successive links of the pattern chain.

The elastic yarn may be entered at any time while any one of the inelastic yarns remains in action without the removal of that inelastic yarn so that the introduction of the elastic yarn infirst, is substituted, are illustrated in Figure 13, from which it will be noted that the slide l is moved to a position corresponding to the introduction of the first yarn and carries with it the auxiliary slide a so that the nose Illr rides at an intermediate level, with the result that the corresponding pawl will engage the high tooth 48 prevolves a special type of operation.. To effect the introduction of the elastic yarn, the slide 8l! occupies its normal position, i. e., that of Figure 10,

but the auxiliary slide 88 is moved toward the left under the action of a laterally extending lug |52 on the pattern chain. The resulting condition is illustrated in Figure 12, and results in the alignment of the slots |02 and |04 to present a slot through which the nose 101 may project. Assuming that the fourth yarn finger remains in action, it will not be removed from action because of the fact that-the conditions existing in Figure 4 will exist, namely, the nose ltd will ride upon a high step 82. As for the other inelastic yarn ngers, they will not be disturbed because in their cases, there will exist the conditions illustrated in Figure `5. In `the case of the elastic yarn, however, the condition of Figure 9 will arise, so far as its pawl is concerned, the pawl, dropping into the aligned 'slots l02 and N4, being in position to engage a low tooth on the corresponding ratchet-42 to step this about and thus bring the yarniinger into action by bringing a low. portion 49 of cam l5 into engagement with the follower 3d. Asthe elastic yarn goes into action, its clamp will be opened at the proper time to release the yarn.

The nose 'It of the pawl corresponding to the yarn finger swinging cam will miss the high step ut riding on the level lill), and accordingly, the swinging of the yarn fingers as a, unit will take pl to serve for the proper placing of the elastic yarn.

It vwill be evident that even though the same inelastic yarn remains in feeding position, the elastic yarn may be removed if, after the auxiliary slide is permitted to return so that there exists the condition of Figure l0 for those courses in which the elastic yarn is to remain in action, the auxiliary slide is thereafter moved again to the position of Figure 12. Undersuch conditionathe nose lllr will again pass through the aligned slots iut and lofi, this time effecting engagement by the pawl of a high step on the ratchet, this condition being illustrated in Figure 9. A high portion 4l is thereby brought opposite follower 33. Thus by successive provisions of laterally extending lugs iti, the elastic yarn may be introduced and re-1I moved without affecting the inelastic yarn which is feeding.

Whenever the elastic yarn is feeding, however,

` it is removed when a yarn change is effected to any inelastic yarn other than the one which is feeding. 'I'his condition offers no practical limitation upon the operation. of the machine, since practically always if the inelastic yarn which is feeding is to be removed, it is desired simultaneously to remove the elastic yarn.lEven if,

through a portion of the fabric knit with the substituted inelastic yarn, it is desired to have the elastic yarn also knit, that may be introduced in the next course, leaving only a single course from which the elastic yarn is missing.

The conditions involved in the removal of the elastic yarn when another inelastic yarn. say the previously described in detail and need not be repeated.

While reference has been made to an elastic yarn as being specially manipulated, it will be evident that the mechanism may handle any auxiliary yarn which it may be desirable to in'- troduce simultaneously with another yarn with the possibility of making its introductions and removal independent, at least to a major extent, of the changes of the other yarns. Thus, forexample, ythe yarn finger stated as handling. the elastic yarn may beused to handle a striping yarn for plating or other decorative or reinforcing purposes, in which case, however, a cam such as 4d would be substituted for cam d5 so that the yarn would be presented-for engagement bythe 'needle hooks and not merely laid in as is the erally at it? and itil', each involving a .'xedl knife itt, a movable knife and clamping element ltd and a xed clamping blade it. When the fingers are in their non-feeding positions, each lies behind its corresponding clamping and cutting mechanism with respect to the feed point. The clamping and cutting mechanisms are arranged in the lower series ltd and the upper series itt to better conform to the limited space available in'view of the large number of yarn carrying nngers, and the desirability of keeping them as close as possible to theyarn feeding position to minimize the yarn ends in the fabric,

the clamping and cutting devices ltd' being inverted as compared with those at ltd and being controlled through Bowden wires which extend upwardly and then downwardly, as indicated by their tubes i60 in. Fig. l.

The specific mechanism for rocking the 1 bracket d is illustrated in Figure 15, in which it will be -noted that a follower llt carried by a lever S H3 is acted upon by the cam having the various high portions 'lil and 'it previously described. The lever i12 is pivoted at il@ and is provided with an adjustable abutment screw ila bearing on the arm llil and arranged to move it to an extent limited by a fixed adjustable abutment screw iid. This mechanism is the same as that described in said Bentley et al. patent.

It isfound that, by reason of the diierent locations of the several clamping and cutting means and of the yarn :lingers in their inactive positions,during the entry and also during the removal of yarns the paths which the yarns would i take without special precautions differ to such ein tent that either misplacement of the yarns may occur or there may be too early a withdrawal of a yarn. In order to avoid this condition, there is secured to the fixed latch guard |80, which terminates just above the position of the needle hooks when they are about to seize the yarn, a wire loop |82 extending radially outwardly as indicated in Figure 16. By reason of the provision of this loop, the line of approach of the yarns to the needles is held low to insure that the yarn is inevitably introduced below their hooks. In other words, the yarn extending during the entry period of the yarn from any of the upper clamps will occupy the same path with respect to the needles which are to seize it. Likewise, as a yarn is withdrawn, it will occupy substantially the same path with respect to the needles which are last to take it, irrespective of the ultimate fully withdrawn position of a yarn finger.

The motions of the various fingers may -now be described in detail. Considering first changes involving the inelastic yarn feeding fingers, the first event occurringin a yarn change involves the pushing out of the finger which is feeding by the action of the steep climb between the surfaces 54 and 52 of its cam 44. This finger is thus forced to its normal inactive position, but continues to feed its yarn to the needles with no interruption whatever of the feeding action, the wire loop |82 serving to guide the yarn in proper fashion in the case of the upper bank of fingers. y The next event is the dropping of the follower off the long high surface 14 of the cam illustrated in Figure 15, which controls the swiveling of the bracket 8 (Figure 1) supporting the yarn fingers. Swinging of this'bracket occurs, moving the ends of the yarn fingers outwardly to provide clearance during the next movement.

The finger selected to go into action now moves to the extreme forward position Ma, dipping en.

route, because of the shape of the slot 20 in which its pin I8 rides, to clear the wire loop |82.

One of the short high surfaces 16 of the swivel controlling cam now acts upon the follower |10 to swing the bracket 8 soas to carry the yarn fingers inwardly, and in particular the one which has just moved to its extreme forward position. This inward movement occupies the time of passage of two or three needles and results in seizure of the yarn by these needles, the yarn being guided, in the case of each upper yarn, by the wire loop |82 at a proper level, extending thereunder to the finger from the corresponding clamp.

Except for the clamp for the upper right hand finger in Figure 16, the clamps have their openings facing the needles. 'I'he clamp for the upper right finger is an exception, its clamp facing away from the needles. This allows later closing of this clamp and cutter in order to make sure that the yarns overlap in the fabric at the change. This finger is so close to the knitting point that a later closing of the clamp and cutter is necessary to insure this overlap.

' The action of the clamps is as follows for all except the upper right clamp:

The clamp for the yarn going into action is immediately opened, and at the same time, the clamp for the yarn which is going out of action is opened. The follower |10 substantially simultaneouslyvis released by the cam surface 16, and consequently the finger assembly againv swings outwardly. Immediately thereafter, the finger which is going into action is moved back to the feeding position Mb, this action taking place by reason of the rise from a low surface 56 to an intermediate surface 54 of its cam M. In view of the fact that it has been swung outwardly, it will clear the needle latches in this movement. It will also dip to clear the wire loop |82 due to the form of its cam slot 20.

` Finally, the follower |10 is again engaged by a surface 14, with the result that the yarn fingers are swung inwardly and at this time the outgoing yam, which has been feeding through its clamp and cutter, is cut. However, in the case of the upper right finger, its yarn is thrown into its clamp and cutter as it moves inwardly, the movable element moving to cut and clamp this yarn at its furtherest inward motion instead of at the beginning of this inward motion, as in the` case of the other fingers.

The cutter and clamp for any other nger may be faced outwardly to provide a longer overlap if found desirable.

All of these various events take place in a very short period to effect a rapid yarn change with a. short, but suicient, overlap of the outgoing and incoming yarns to prevent opening of the fabric. As indicatedA above, the close proximity of all of the yarn fingers to the feed point avoids the presence of long yarn ends.

In the case of the elastic yarn fingers going into action, a quite similar cycle takes place. with the exception that at the end of this cycle the elastic yarn nger Hr occupies a position approximately as illustrated at Ila just beyond the lowermost point of the stitch cam, so that it may lay its yarn between the loopsy drawn by the needles in thel upper and lower cylinder. As this finger goes into action, its dipping movement causes it to clear the yarn finger which is in feeding position. As it moves forwardly, and up to thetime the elastic yarn is released by its clamp, the elastic yarn is fed within the needle hooks, just as in the case of an ingoing inelastice yarn, with the result that it is actually knitted into a group of stitches whereby its end is held from movement relative to the fabric. Until it is again removed, howeverI it merely falls into the crotches of the stitches as described. When it goes out, it is again caught by the needles and knitted into the loops, with the result that both ends of the portion fed to the fabric are securely tied therein.

The sinkers in the present machine are specially constructed to improve the handling of the yarns in two respects, first to accelerate the seizure of an ingoing yarn, and secondly to insure that as needles are picked down into action the loops on the shanks thereof will not be carried below the sinker hooks.

The double ended needles |53 heretofore indicated are provided with upper hooks, indicated at and upper latches at |82 and are of conventional form. The sinkers |94 are also substantially conventional, being arcuate in form and arranged to move in circular arcs about centers concentric with their shank portions. Each of the sinkers is provided with a hook |96 in usual position, but is also provided inwardly of the hook with a hump portion |88 projecting substantially above the arc 202 which would continue the throat portion 204 beneath the hook.

Each sinker is also provided with an extended nose 200 as contrasted with conventional sinkers which terminate just outwardly of the hook.

The action of the sinker in accelerating the seizure of a-'yarn Y will be evident from the successive steps of operation indicated in Figures 17, 18 and 19. Normally, the loops would lie approximately at the level of the arc indicated at 202, but prior to the descent of the needle to seize the yarn and draw stitches, the sinker moves outwardly, so that the hump |98 cams upwardly the loops held by the needles. As the descent of a needle begins, the latch immediately engages the loop on the shank of its needle, with the result that it is very quickly flipped upwardly to trap the incoming yarn Y. As will be evident from Figures 1'7 and 18, the entrapment of the yarn will take place with a very slight descending movement of a needle corresponding to a short angular movement about the axis of the needle cylinder. As the needle moves toits lowermost position, the adjacent sinkers move inwardly so that the stitches are drawn over the outer portion of the ledge l98 or substantially in the throat 204.

Figures 20 and 21 illustratel the fashion in which the nose of the sinker prevents the loops from getting too low as the needles are picked down into action in the formation of heels and toes.

As is conventional, each of the needles has a hump 206 located beneath the latch, and when a needle is picked up out of action, the hump 206 will lie above the level of a loop L about its shank. At this same time, the stitch will be above the hook of the sinker due to the action of the associated conventional bluff sliders. Accordingly, if the needle was then lowered, the hump 206 would, by frictionalaction, tend to pull it downwardly into such position that it might be drawn below,the nose ofthe sinker, which, on being projected, might penetrate the loop. Provision of the extended nose 20d on the sinker .prevents this action, insuring that the loop remains above the sinker at all times.

What we claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A knitting machine comprising a series of needles, a plurality of means for presenting yarns to said needles, and yarn changing devices, said yarn changing devices comprising a main selector eleinent, means for moving said selector element to various positions to determine yarn changes, and an auxiliary selector element movable independently of the main selector element to eiect auxiliary yarn changes, said auxiliary selector element being movable with the main selector element so that, upon operation of the main selector element to effect a yarn change, the auxiliary yarn is removed from feeding position.

2. A knitting machine comprising a series of needles, a, plurality of means for presenting yarns to said needles, and yarn changing devices, said yarn changing devices comprising a main selector element, means for moving said selector element to various positions to determine yarn changes, and an auxiliary selector element movable independently of the main selector element to effect auxiliary yarn changes without eiecting changes of yarns under the control of the main selector element, said auxiliary selector element being movable with the main selector elementvso that, upon operation of the main selector element to effect a yarn change. the auxiliary yarn is removed from feeding position.

3. A knitting machine comprising a series of needles, a plurality of means for presenting yarns to said needles, and yarn changing devices, said yarn changing devices comprising a main selector slide, means for moving said main selector slide .to various positions to determine yarn changes, and an auxiliary selector slide carried by the main selector slide but movable independently thereof to eiect auxiliary yarn changes. 4. A knitting machine comprising a series of needles, a plurality of means for presenting' yarns to said needles, and yarn changing devices, said yarn changing devices comprising 'a main selector slide, means for moving said main selector slide to various positions to determine yarn changes, and an auxiliary selector slide carried by the main selector slide but movable independently thereof to effect auxiliary yarn changes without effecting changes of yarns under the control of the main slide.

5. A knitting machine comprising a series of needles, a plurality of means for presenting yarns to said needles, and yarn changing devices, said yarn changing devices comprising a main selector slide, means for moving said main selector slide to various positions to determine yarn changes, and an auxiliary selector slide carried -by the main selector slide but movable independently thereof to effect auxiliary yarn changes, said auxiliary selector slide being movable with the main selector slide so that, upon operation of the main slide to effect a yarn change, the auxiliary yarn is removed from feeding position.

6. A knitting machine comprising a series of needles, a plurality of means for presenting yarns to said needles, and yarn changing devices, said yarn changing devices comprising a main selector slide, means for moving said main selector slide to various positions to determine yarn changes, and an auxiliary selector slide carried by the main selector slide but movable independently thereof to effect auxiliary yarn changes without effecting changes of yarns under the control of the main slide, said auxiliary selector slide being movable with the main selector slide so that, upon operation of the main slide to effect a yarn change, the auxiliary yarn is removed from feeding position.

. 7. A knitting machine comprising a series of needles arranged to knit fabric containing reversely concatenated loops, a plurality of means for presenting yarns to said needles to be knit into stiches, means for presenting a yarn to said needles to be held between reversely concatenated loops, and yarn changing devices comprising a main selector element, means for moving said selector element to various positions to determine changes of the first mentioned yarns, and an auxiliary selector element movable independently of the lmain selector element to effect changes of the last mentioned yarn, without effecting changes of yarns under control of the main selector element, said auxiliary selector element being movable with the main selector element so that, upon operation of the main selector element to effect a yarn change, the last mentioned yarn is removed from. feeding position.

8.y A knitting machine comprising a series of needles arranged to knit fabric containing reversely concatenated loops; a plurality of means for presenting yarns to said needles to be vknit into stitches, means for presenting a yarn to said needles to be held between reversely concatenated loops, and yam changing devices comprising a main selector element, means for moving said selector element to various positions to determine changes of the first mentioned yarns, *and an auxiliary selector element movable independently of the main selector element to effect changea of the last mentioned yarn, without effecting changes of yarns under control oi' the main selector element, said auxiliary selector element being movable with the main selector element so that, upon operation of the main selector element to eiiect a yarn change, the last mentioned yarn is removed from feeding position.

9. A knitting machine comprising a series of needles. a plurality of lingers for presenting yarns t said needles, and individual clamps and cutters for said yarns, said clamps and cutters being arranged in a plurality of banks and said yarn presenting fingers occupying inoperative positions adjacent to their respective clamps and cutters and being movable between said banks towards and away from yarn feeding positions.

10. A knitting machine comprising a series of needles, a plurality of fingers for presenting yarns to said needles, individual clamps and cutters for said yarns, said clamps and cutters being arranged in a plurality of banks and said yarn presenting fingers occupying inoperative positions adjacent to their respective clamps and cutters, and yarn guiding means engaging' the yarns from fingers of one of said banks to guide the same to the needles.

11. A knitting machine comprising a series of needles, a plurality of fingers for presenting yarns to said needles, individual clamps and cutters for said yarns, said clamps and cutters being arranged in a plurality of banks and said yarn presenting fingers occupying inoperative positions adjacent to their respective clamps and cutters, and yarn guiding means engaging yarns from fingers of one of said banks between the feeding positions of their fingers and the point of seizure of the yarns by the needles to guide the same to the needles.

12. A knitting machine comprisinga series of needles, a plurality of fingers for presenting yarns to said needles, and individual clamps for said yarns, said clamps being arranged in a plurality of banks and said yarn presenting fingers occupying inoperative positions adjacent to their respective clamps and being movable between said banks towards and away from yarn feeding positions.

13. A knitting machine comprising a series of needles, a plurality of fingers for presenting yarns to said needles, individual clamps for said yarns, said clamps being arranged ln a, plurality of banks and said yarn presenting fingers occupying inoperative positions adjacent to their'respective clamps, and yarn guiding means engaging yarns from fingers of one of said banks to guide the same to the needles.

14. A knitting machine comprising a series of needles, 'a plurality of fingers for presenting yarns to said'needles, individual clamps for said yarns, said clamps being arranged in a plurality of banks and said yarn presenting fingers occupylng inoperative positions adjacent to their respective clamps, and yarn guiding means engaging assenso needles, a plurality of lingers for presenting yarns to said needles, individual clamps and cutters for said yarns, said clamps and cutters being arranged in a plurality of banks, and yarn guiding means engaging the yarns from fingers of one of said banks to guide the same to the needles.

17. A knitting machine comprising a series of needles, a plurality 4 of fingers for presenting yarns to said needles, individual clamps and cutters for said yarns, said clamps and cutters being arranged in a plurality of banks, and yarn guiding means engaging yarns from fingers voi one of said banks between the feeding positions of their fingers and the point of seizure. of the yarns by the needles to guide the same to the needles.

18. A knitting machine comprising a series of needles, a plurality of lingers for presenting yarns to said needles, and individual clamps for said yarns, said clamps being arranged in a plurality of banks and said yarn presenting fingers being movable between said b'anks towards and away from yarn feeding positions.

19.. A knitting machine comprising a series of needles, a plurality of ngers for presenting yarns to said needles, individual clamps for said yarns, said clamps being arranged in a plurality of banks, and yarn guiding means engaging yarns from lingers of one of said banks to guide the same to the needles.

20. A knitting machine comprising a series of needles, a plurality of fingers for presenting yarns to said needles, individual clamps for said yarns, said clamps being arranged in a plurality of banks, and yarn guiding means engaging yarns from fingers of one of said banks between the feeding positions of their fingers and the point of seizure of the yarns by the needles to guide the same to the needles.

21. A knitting machine comprising a series of needles, a plurality of means for presenting yarns yarns from fingers of one of said banks between the feeding positions of their fingers and the point of seizure of the yarns by the needles to guide the same to the needles.

l5. A. knitting machine comprising a series of needles, a. plurality of lingers for presenting yarns to said needles, and individual clamps and cutters for said yarns, said clamps and cutters being arranged in a plurality of banks and said yarn presenting fingers being movable between said banks towards and awayV from yarn feeding positions.

16. A knitting machine comprising a series of to said needles, and yarn changing devices, said yarn changing devices comprising a main selector element, means including a pattern device for moving said selector element to various positions to determine yarn changes, an auxiliary selector element movable independently of the main selector element to effect auxiliary yarn changes, and means including a second pattern device for moving said auxiliary selector element, said auxiliary selector element being movable also by the first mentioned pattern device.

22. A knitting machine comprising a series of needles, a plurality of means for presenting yarns *o said needles,v and yarn changing devices, said yarn changing devices comprising a main selector element, means for moving said selector element to various positions to determine yarn changes, and an auxiliary selector element movable independently of the main selector element to eil'ect auxiliary yarn changes, said auxiliary selector element being also movable with the main selector element.

23. A knitting machine comprising a series of needles, a plurality of means for presenting yarns to said needles, and yarn changing devices, said yarn changing devices comprising a main selector element, means for moving said main selector element to various positions to determine yarn changes, and an auxiliary selector element carried by the main selector element but movable independently thereof to effect auxiliary yarn changes.

24. A knitting machine comprising a series of needles arranged to knit fabric containing resaid clamps being arranged in a plurality of banks, yarn guiding means engaging yarns from iingers of one of said banks to guide the same to the needles, and yarn changing devices, said yarn changing devices comprising a main selector element, means for moving said selector element to various positions to determine yarn changes, and an auxiliary selector element movable independently of the main selector element to eiect auxiliary yam changes, said auxiliary selector element being also movable within the main selector element.

36. A knitting machine comprising a series of needles, a plurality of fingers for presenting yarns to said needles. individual clamps for said yarns, said clamps being arranged in a plurality of banks, yarn guiding means engaging yarns from fingers of one of said banks to guide the same to the needles, and yarn changing devices, said yarn changing devices comprising a main selector element. means for moving said selector element to various positions to determine yarn changes, and an auxiliary selector element carried by the main selector element but movable independently thereoi to efiect auxiliary yam changes.

37. A knitting machine comprising a series of needles, a plurality of fingers for presenting yarns to said needles, individual clamps for said yarns, yarn guiding means engaging yarns between their fingers and the needles as the fingers move away from their yarn feeding positions to positions adjacent to their clamps preparatory to yarn change,

and yarn changing devices, said yarn changing devices comprising a main selector element, means for moving said selector element to various positions to determine yarn changes, and an auxiliary selector element movable independently of the main selector element to efiect auxiliary yarn changes, said auxiliary selector element being also movable with the main selector element.

`38; A knitting machine comprising a series of needles, a plurality o! lingers for presenting yarns to said needles, individual clamps for said yarns, yarn guiding means engaging yarns between their fingers and the needles as the fingers move away from their yarn feeding positions to positions adjacent to their clamps preparatory to yarn change, and yarn changing devices, said yarn changing devices comprising a main selector element, means for moving said selector element to various positions to determine yarn changes, and an auxiliary selector element carried by the main selector element but movable independently thereof to eifect auxiliary yarn changes.

39. A knitting machine ,of double cylinder type `comprising a series of needles, a iinger for presenting a yarn to the needles, a clamp for said yarn. said ilnger having different operating positions from which it may feed yarn, which positions are such that direct lines of approachl oiyarn from the finger positions to the needles would be dierent. and guiding means engaging said yarn between the nger and the needles to cause the yarn to follow substantially the same path from the guiding means to the needles irrespective of the position of the yarn feeding nger.

` ROBERT. H. LAWSON.

PAUL W. BRIBTOW. 

